I am a semi-retired Project Director with over 35 years of airline and general management experience, recently returned to the UK after working abroad on major airport development projects. I joined Home-Start in 2020 because with a social worker in our family who specialises in dealing with teenagers, I understand just how important the early years are in shaping a child’s character, their education and their future.

I have been involved with Home–Start Wokingham District since 2016 and I have been fortunate enough to have been the  Chair of Trustees from 2018-2021

In my professional career, I worked in an environment where delivering the goods on time and in full was fundamental to success. The same principles lie at the heart of the work carried out by the dedicated team of volunteers and staff at Home-Start. It is this dynamic attitude which makes Home-Start such a successful and worthwhile charity to support.

I intend to continue to support them in their endeavours because I believe young children and their parents deserve all the support we can give them.

I am a mum to two girls, Asia (15) and Arya (11 going on 21!) and husband Vem. I am a qualified accountant working within the VAT team at Reckitt. I spend my spare time in the garden resuscitating and willing the plants to live. I’m thrilled to be able to make a contribution to Home-Start Wokingham’s great work.

I worked as a Primary school teacher in Bracknell for about twenty years. On retirement I was looking to do some Voluntary work and felt that Home-Start was a good fit for my skills, having worked with young children for so many years and having brought up three children of my own. I volunteered with Home-Start, supporting a family with a disabled child for nearly three years before becoming a Trustee in 2018. I currently chair the Staffing committee and the Quality Assurance committee.

I was lucky enough to become a Trustee at Home-Start Wokingham following my recent retirement from a career in Education. As a teacher it was obvious how crucial it was for a child to begin their school life with the correct skills and resilience to enable them to achieve their full potential in whatever they choose to do. As a parent and grandparent, I have seen how much children learn and develop in the first five years and that Home-Start helps families to give their children the best possible experience in their early years.

I joined Home Start Wokingham District when I retired from full time work in 2014, taking over as Chair of Trustees, a position I held for four years. I have been a member of the Staffing and Resources Committee and now I am involved with Fundraising.

In my working life I was involved in Education Management and had experience of managing teams, leadership, student support and safeguarding issues, and I believe that I have the necessary skills to offer appropriate advice and guidance to our wonderful, hardworking staff and volunteers. Seeing my own grandchildren grow makes me realise even more how important the first five years are.

I became a Trustee of Home-Start having retired from being headteacher of a large primary school in the London Borough of Hounslow. The work Home-Start does with young families is much needed and of a very high quality. The professional team and the volunteers do amazing things.

I feel that as a Trustee I am part of a valuable community resource which enables so many children and parents to learn, prosper and grow.

I am a recently retired technical and general manager, with long-standing volunteer and trustee experience. I came across Home-Start through my volunteering work with St Paul’s Church in Wokingham. I was really impressed with the approach Home-Start takes and its hardworking staff and volunteers, so when the opportunity arose to apply to be a Trustee, I jumped at it. Fortunately, I was accepted! Having seen the impact that mental health issues and isolation can have on my own family, I am very motivated to contribute to Home-Start’s success in any way I can.

As a mum of three three ‘kids’ who are all now adults, I need no convincing of the value of the early years. I work as an entrepreneur and have also co-founded a Gambian soccer academy charity. I enjoy running and run regular half marathons, including the Wokingham one. I joined Home-Start Wokingham as a Trustee in 2024 and aim to add value by combining my project management, with environmental and banking experience.

I am a father to three adult sons so I know all about the challenges of family life. I’ve spent my career in IT Sales and my weekends playing or watching football. I’m a massive Lincoln City fan and currently coach the Soccer School at Ashridge Park on Saturdays. I also volunteer at First Days in Wokingham. I wanted to be a trustee of Home-Start because I’m very passionate about the Wokingham area and giving back to our community.

I am thrilled to have joined Home Start Wokingham District as a trustee, bringing nearly 10 years’ experience in the world of third sector income generation back to a local level, supporting families and their children in the area I am lucky enough to call home. Home-Start Wokingham provides a unique service to families within the Borough and with increasing financial pressures and cuts to services I’m thrilled to be part of the journey of scaling our income to meet the needs of more families who rely on us for support. Away from the world of numbers, data, bids and funding proposals, I live locally with my soon to be husband and our energetic but loveable Goldendoodle, Marmaduke, and can often be found chasing him across parks and fields around the Borough!